The biggest university in South Africa is The University of South Africa. It is hosting over 400,000 students worldwide and affiliates from over 130 countries. It is also one of the world’s largest universities.
If you’re deciding to study in Africa you will find an abundance of opportunities. These includes exploring diverse cultures, sights, landscapes and adventures waiting for you in this enormous continent.
African Higher Education
Once it was recognised that higher education in Africa is crucial, steps were taken to start increasing enrolment in higher education. Also, several decades ago higher education opportunities in Africa was severely low stemming at 3% to 5%. However, in the recent times, existing institutions are being doubled and tripled with flowing enrolment from students nationally and globally.
The Biggest University in South Africa, being The University of South Africa is among the best that offers students tremendous opportunities in education. Questioning the relevance and impact of higher education in Africa, a significant metric is the employment of graduates.
Although graduate unemployment figures are remaining scarce, the nation is expecting a youth bulge over the coming decades. This will be paving the way towards greater demand for education.
Presently there are 1300 recognised tertiary educational institutions in Africa, where 50% of them consisting to be private. And as reported in the recent years, these numbers are continuing to grow.
The majority of the African population are youth under the age of 30. This is a major driving factor for establishing higher education to be the nation’s top most priority. Higher educational development in Africa is also highly contributing towards economic development, social cohesion and lasting peace in the continent.
Furthermore, according to framing discussion held by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Development (UNESCO), there is an on-going operational strategy. It is prioritising higher education in Africa from 2022 – 2029.
These programs are aiming to build an inclusive and equitable system. It will be providing quality education throughout the continent increasing opportunities for students locally and worldwide.
The University of South Africa (UNISA)
The University of South Africa (UNISA), the largest University in Africa and the Biggest University in South Africa remain the only higher education institution to carry the name of the country. Spanning for over 15 decades, UNISA has being positively responding to the changing times and adapting to new developments.
The University of South Africa is continuing to cater towards the demanding needs of the nation and society at large. It has done so while remaining to be an ever evolving higher education environment. And it is aimed at transforming and shaping the lives of the next generation through education.
Education streams
Offering a wide spectrum of academic disciplines and subjects, UNISA provides insight into multiple and diverse streams of education. Subjects that are being widely and prominently offered consist of:
- Law
- Health Sciences
- Communication Studies
- Creative Arts
- Education
- Humanities and Social Sciences’
- Engineering and Technology
- Business and Management Studies
- Applied and Professional Studies
UNISA being the biggest university in South Africa located in Pretoriadates its roots back to 1873 initially functioning as an examining institution for higher education. However, in 1916 the university changed its name to the University of South Africa. It is presently known as the largest university in Africa.
The University of South Africa is also known as the biggest university in South Africa in size. It became one of the first public universities worldwide in 1946. It was also one of the first universities to offer distance learning education. Today it is famous for being one of the most leading, open and distance and e-learning university.
This university has a large student body consisting of over 370,000 students from over 109 different countries. Its diverse global reach of students and education is continuing to remain exemplary worldwide.
The university is also known to participating Global Sustainable Development Goals and co-hosted the Global Sustainable Congress 2024 in Thailand. The position of UNISA has been solidified as one of leading sustainability champions in the higher education sphere globally.
The Five Top It Universities in South Africa
The QS World University rankings are featuring a total of 41 African universities in 2024. Although the largest university in Africa is The University of South Africa, the top universities in South Africa in order consist of:
- University of Cape Town
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Stellenbosch University
- University of Johannesburg
- University of Pretoria
These universities are representing a respectable assembling of higher education institutions in South Africa. And continues to remain as some of the top universities in South Africa. The academic opportunities offered by these universities are diverse spanning from humanities, social sciences, engineering, business…etc.
Some of the leadership programs and international scholarships being offered in these universities can be found in the Yale Young African Scholars Web page. They are collectively known for their research facilities and expertise, dynamic learning environment, leadership programs and global exchange programs.
Together they largely contribute to the developing economic and social landscape of South Africa, offering students’ a diverse array of opportunities globally.
Conclusion
In summary, Africa is appealing to be a global educational hub for students locally and worldwide. Offering a diverse range of opportunities and elation of culture, these universities are globally ranking to be among the top universities in South Africa. African universities will continue to be thriving as engines of knowledge transforming the continent and beyond.
Key Points
- UNISA, Africa’s largest university, educates over 370,000 students globally and is a leader in distance learning.
- Universities like University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, University of Johannesburg, and University of Pretoria are highly ranked globally.
- Diverse Academic Offerings business, offering leadership programs and international scholarships.
- They drive South Africa’s development through research, dynamic learning, and global exchanges.
- Africa is emerging as a global educational hub, offering diverse opportunities and cultural experiences, with universities playing a pivotal role in knowledge transformation.
FAQs
Which African country has best university?
Cape Town in South Africa is known to have the best university. The University of Cape Town ranked as one of the best and among the top 100 universities in Africa.
What is the top university in South Africa 2024?
As per the 2024 QS World Rankings, University of Cape Town is the top University I South Africa.
Which University graduates are most employable in South Africa?
According to QS world rankings, university of Cape Town (UCT) graduates have the best employment with a score of 92.8. This is followed by the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) and University of Pretoria as the third.
Which degree is most in demand in South Africa?
Healthcare, technology and business are some of the most presently in-demand degrees.
